Work begins at University Hospital Ayr A&E department

Designed by BMJ architects the extension will form part of a wider investment drive which will also see delivery of two new combined assessment units at Ayr and University Hospital Crosshouse, with work on the latter anticipated to begin by mid-June.

Phases one and two of Building for Better Care will provide improved ‘front door’ facilities, allowing patients to receive rapid assessment at the point of entry.

NHS chief executive John Burns said: “Building for Better Care will give us the fit-for-purpose physical environment to support the improvements we are already making in the ways patients are assessed, treated, admitted or safely discharged when they come to hospital in an emergency.”